Berkeley, California (Thursday, September 23, 2010) - The City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) will be focusing enforcement on the State of California’s bicycle laws as part of an ongoing weekly series of projects aimed at reducing all injury traffic collisions by 10 percent in the city. Enforcement, Education and Engineering are the three components to a traffic collision reduction strategy.

On Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. members of BPD’s Traffic Bureau will be in the South Campus area of the City of Berkeley concentrating on those bicyclists that are in violation of laws that can put them in danger of being involved in collisions. A cyclist is expected to follow the majority of the rules of the road as if he/she is a car or other vehicle. Any cyclist that violates California Vehicle Code (CVC) is subject to a citation.

Sgt. Rob Rittenhouse S-9, Supervisor of the BPD Traffic Bureau shared, “The most prevalent violations that contribute to injury collisions involving bicycles are violations of Stop Signs, Red Lights, Riding on the Sidewalk, Riding in Crosswalks and Riding the Wrong Way.” He added, “In the hours of darkness, BPD officers note many cyclists without bike lights, another violation that puts cyclists at risk.”

There have been four (4) fatal collisions involving bicycles in the City of Berkeley between the years 1984 to July 2010. In each of the traffic collision investigations, the bicyclist was determined to be at fault.

The BPD Traffic Bureau has been doing weekly enforcement projects focused on a diversity of traffic violations. The Bureau receives community complaints and concerns regarding locations where violations are frequent. Recent projects have included focus on vehicles violating pedestrians’ right of way, speeding and pedestrian violations.